Trinidad and Tobago was recently featured as the #10 World’s Most Sexiest Accents by CNN.com and then this video of the Miss Universe T&T delegate pops up!
Read on…..
The country has two Miss Universe titles and numerous top ten finalists in the annual pageant. However, many locals are fuming at this recent video of Gabrielle Walcott who sounds like she was born in Beverly Hills than Trinidad.
And yes…..we know the difference between speaking and putting on an accent. Former Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam speaks proper English and still sounds authentically Trini as well as Miss T&T / Universe 2008 and Project Runway Season 9 contestant Anya Ayoung-Chee whose accent is clearly heard every week on primetime tv.
Well…watch the video and you be the judge and read below for one local’s detailed rant about Gabby’s “O.C. accent!”
“Dear Gabrielle Walcott , Ah doh always talk like dis eh, sometimes I speak like this …..”
Written by: Folayan Xui
Correct me if I am wrong, does speaking well as a Trinidadian equate to speaking with a forced quasi-American accent and a contrived “Valley Girl” accent at that?
Well, during Miss Trinidad’s interview for the Miss Universe Pageant, our representative sounded more like a valley girl from the OC than a resident of WestMoorings. And all these Trinidadian clowns kept saying that “she was speaking properly.” Bull shit!!!
You can speak just as properly with a Trinidadian accent. Ask the thousands of proud Trinis that do it on a daily basis.
Seriously all those clowns who claimed that “she was just speaking properly” is up to their necks in caca, fowl shit, poop and every other type of excrement you can think of. I speak properly everyday and I have made it a point too keep my accent even after having lived aboard for close to 20 years. Yes I too encounter the ignoramuses that claim that they cannot understand my brand of English. However , instead of trying to sound like a fresh water Yankee I slow my roll , enunciate and speak rather crisply. Bet your bottom dollar they understand me then , they understand me so much so that they now think that I am speaking down at them. This just goes to show that you cannot please the masses. Therefore why go through the hassle of switching up your accent to sound like a fake ??
Miss Gabrielle Walcott when you were given that title, we gave it to you with the expectations that you would go out there and represent our country to the best of your ability. You were suppose to embody what it is means to be a Trinbagonian. You were suppose show to the world the traits that makes us unique as a people and culture. What can be more unique to a country than it’s accent? An accent that was honed from influences far and wide, an accent that speaks of tradition and culture, an accent that has highs, lows and crescendos. So much so that we are often told that when we speak we are so lyrical that we seem to sing instead of talk.
Madame Walcott just in case no one ever told you this, I am telling you now – the Trinidadian accent is a beautiful thing and if you don’t know that, you better ask someone…someone like CNN.
Now take that in yuh pipe and smoke it!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOA!
Here’s a news broadcast of her after she won the competition three months ago, fast forward to 2:22.
What are your views? Do you think she sounds authentic? Leave a comment?
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September 4, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Is there a video with an example of her “more authentic” Trini accent? It seems a bit unfair to throw stones if we have nothing to compare this video to because I heard an accent. Granted it wasn’t as strong as I’ve heard from other Trinis including the two examples cited, and while the uses of “for sure” were a bit valley, how do we know this just isn’t her everyday accent?
September 4, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Hi Prizm, it’s up.
September 4, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Here you go, tell me if this is not a startling contrast. She is as FAKE as fake can be.
http://video.triniscene.com/videos/616/cott-awards-interview-with-gabrielle-walcott.html
September 4, 2011 at 1:08 pm
What the hell! I agree with the writer and furthermore she is not a true representation of the beauty of a Trinidad and Tobago woman. For example, this is like China sending a Indian woman to represent them.
Give me a break! apparently you only need to be born here to qualify as a contestant. she looks approx. 23yrs old and she lived abroad for more than more than 20yrs. Does she even understand our culture? I would be very surprise if she get a place in the finals because the judges are not only looking at physical beauty
but also authenticity.
September 10, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Hey Shairoon, my ancestors welcomed Columbus and all the other immigrants to our lovely shores hundreds of years ago… that is right.. I am of Carib descent. Over the years, my forefathers integrated with other races.
I have every possible race in me ….including my Chinese grandfather who came here looking for a better life.
I am proud of my Carib/African/Indian/Chinese/European blood running through my veins. I am a TRINI through and through.
When my callalloo mother met my callalloo father …. each one of my siblings and I came out in varying skin colours and hair texture … yet we are all TRINIDADIAN.
Trinidad belongs to all of us … let’s not get caught up in the political rantings of the day withall the propoganda of black vs indian vs white
Respect one another and everything else will fall in place. Bless!
December 23, 2011 at 5:29 am
Wow you truly embodies what it is to be Trini. Love the proud trini to de bone mentality.
September 4, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Thanks for posting the additional video. After watching that, yeah, she definitely toned down her accent in the first video. But to say she’s not authentic seems a bit harsh. ONE interview makes her inauthentic across the board?
I want to know more about the allegations that the contest was fixed. In what way? And if that’s the case she should in all fairness be stripped of her title and the committee be investigated. But if not, give the girl a chance to reign.
Shairoon, why would you say she’s not a true representation of TnT? Of all the Trinis I’ve known personally from grade school to present, and the many others I’ve come across in person, television, photos, etc Trinidad (much like most of the Caribbean) is a melting pot with many cultures and races making up the country’s citizens. Is that fair to say?
September 7, 2011 at 9:27 am
Very very disappointed in Ms. Walcott. I am even more disappointed in colonial-minded supporters who think that speaking by international standards or speaking “properly” means having a US or British accent – it speaks volumes as to our mental emancipation. Isn’t Trinidad a part of this “international” community? I speak freely in my Trinidadian accent around foreign work counterparts, sometimes, unconsciously breaking into our dialect. Guess what, they FULLY understood and appreciated me.
The people who are soothing your ego by saying it is okay, are not giving constructive criticism. This was a big mistake on a stage where such mistakes should not be made. And where social media is as widespread as it is today.
February 25, 2012 at 11:37 pm
I am one clowns who defend, and I have to say, my disappointment is not with Gabrielle, but many of those who are writing to degrade and condemn her. I’ve lived in America most of my adult life, I came here at 20, and 33 yrs later I still have my accent, Why? because when I came here, I was already one hundred percent Trinidadian,I learn to speak in Trinidad and all my speaking skills were already developed. My understanding is that Gabrielle lived in
America as a young child, meaning as a child she learned her speak here in America, and as children would, she learn to speak do way others around her spoke. I do not agree with all those who feel that her speaking with an American accent makes her Un-Trinidadian.Geeze you guys seem to think by her having an American accent, is enough to start world war 111.Didn’t your mama teach you, if you don’t have anything good to say about someone, its best not to say anything at all.
February 25, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Didn’t your mama teach you that when you don’t know what you talking bout to stay quiet? All who live in Trinidad hear the girl speak EVERYDAY like a trinidadian. Not an American. Did you see the Miss World pageant that she took part in? TRINIDADIAN accent. Are you aware also that Gabrielle admitted to the faux pas?
The X-files and fer shuurr accent were FAKE and PUT ON as KNOWN by people who LIVE HERE and have HEARD her speak before.
September 8, 2011 at 10:19 am
Gabrielle sounds real fake! she needs to stop that!
September 8, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Interesting.. Obviously shes faking her Accent in the Miss Universe video.. please represent accurately.. its not like we want go on the international stage an talk like Ian Alleyne.. just represent our country well.. accent(proper) an all..
September 9, 2011 at 8:35 pm
It was not that Bad – For Sure
September 10, 2011 at 9:25 pm
After living in the USA for so many years …I still speak like a Trini and everyone that meets me say;”its so nice to have me as a friend,cause the language is different and unique..” I think this girl is very fake and trys to be accepted by portraying to be like that of an American rather than from Trinidad….it’s a shame,for so many people try to put up this fake talk and I too can do it ,but I refuse to please people ,but rather please GOD and be proud of who I am;Trini to the bone.Miss TnT needs to do the same .And allow the beauty of All trini women to shine….So yes again I miss TNT but I live in USA ,And if given the chance to chose,I’ll chose Trini any day…Represent Trini ,drop the fake….be real…
September 12, 2011 at 11:22 am
[...] If she could only teach Gabby Walcott how to keep an authentic Trini [...]
September 16, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Inferiority complex mixed with the desire to USE our COUNTRY’s name to further her acting career, some piece of money was passed for her to win Ms. T& T again and also because clearly SHE IS DESPARATE to be famous and would do ANYTHING, Shameless.
December 23, 2011 at 5:37 am
If she spent 20 years in America from a young child, then its only natural that she will have have an american accent. Penny also had an American Accent. I sort understand the need to be Trinidadian through and through, but even in the clip to show the difference, she has an American accent, there is very little difference.
May 8, 2012 at 2:51 am
Gabrielle Walcott was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She did not spend 20 years as many people are stating here. Infact, she attended Primary school, High Shoo. And The University of the West Indies, in Trinidad. She later pursued acting and theatre arts at HB Studios in New York City, United States and moved back to Trinidad right after. She currently still resides in Trinidad.